RSS Feedhttps://10.40.239.128/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{FF1182EB-FB0F-45EC-96EB-DE4EA7B20E8D}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/be-serious-about-safety-guidelines-to-have-fun-on-extreme-roller-coasters/Roller Coasters Can Be Fun and Safe if Guidelines Are Followed<p>&ldquo;The speed and forces that make roller coasters so much fun also are the potential causes of injury in susceptible riders,&rdquo; said Adam Phillips, physician assistant on the Trauma Team at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. </p>
<p>As described on Lagoon&rsquo;s website, &ldquo;Cannibal lifts riders 208 feet and plunges them into a 116&deg; beyond vertical free-fall into an underground tunnel. Cannibal is Lagoon&rsquo;s most thrilling ride, including a 140 foot tall inverted loop and water feature. Riders travel up to 70 mph over 2,735 feet and through 3 inversions.&rdquo;</p>
<p>While that experience may sound fun to many people, it&rsquo;s important to remember there are serious forces at work. As people walk around earth, they experience &ldquo;normal&rdquo; gravity (i.e. 1 G). On high-intensity roller coasters, the G-forces may briefly exceed 4 Gs. Cannibal actually reaches 4.2 Gs. </p>
<p>To put that in perspective, Space Shuttle occupants experienced around 3.5 Gs (sustained) on takeoff and re-entry. A fighter pilot may experience upwards of 8-10 Gs of force temporarily. People often black out around 5 Gs of force.</p>
<p>Phillips said these forces put significant strain on riders&rsquo; musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Four Gs of force means a rider&rsquo;s head now weighs four times what it normally does. The muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, and discs throughout the body must support four times the weight they do at rest.</p>
<p>Healthy riders can most likely withstand these forces without any problems. In fact, most healthy individuals rarely experience new injuries due to these significant forces. However, those with pre-existing conditions may not be able to handle the added stress.</p>
<p>&ldquo;People with pre-existing issues in their muscles or bones or cardiovascular system are already prone to have injuries exacerbated. That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s absolutely necessary to follow the safety guidelines posted for Cannibal or other similar rides,&rdquo; said Phillips.</p>
<p>According to the &ldquo;Fun and Safety Guide Sign&rdquo; for Cannibal, the ride is not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with heart trouble, high blood pressure, back/neck/bone injuries or recent surgery or illness. Guests less than 48 inches may not ride and due to the design of the seat restraints, exceptionally large or tall individuals may not be able to ride. </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;The engineering and safety restraint systems of commercial amusement park rides are highly regulated and regularly inspected. Most of the time, accidents have to do with human error or rider noncompliance with safety rules. Follow the rules and you&rsquo;ll enjoy the ride,&rdquo; Phillips said.</p>Fri, 31 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{9C2C8054-B4BD-4189-828F-29AC9FC115BB}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/avoiding-west-nile-virus-and-other-mosquito-borne-illnesses/Avoiding West Nile Virus and Other Mosquito Borne Illnesses<p>Besides leaving annoying, itchy spots behind, some mosquitoes carry diseases that can have lasting effects on people. West Nile Virus is the most common and most heard of human disease, but recently mosquitoes in the U.S. have been infecting people with chikungunya. Most symptoms are pretty rare &ndash; about one in twenty people will come down with flu-like symptoms. In about one percent of those cases, these diseases can cause neurological illness (swelling of the brain or surrounding tissue), long-term joint pain, paralysis and even death. There is no treatment or vaccine for these diseases.</p>
<p>Fortunately, it is easy to prevent &ndash; don&rsquo;t get bit! &nbsp;Bug repellent with DEET, applied as directed, is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and your family. Even children and pregnant women should wear repellent. Other repellent options include sprays with picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLD) or PMD, or IR3535. Covering up with long sleeved, light weight clothing can also deter mosquitoes.</p>
<p>In Utah, there are about 50 different types of mosquitoes and they will pester people at all hours. However the breeds that carry disease are almost exclusively night time biters &ndash; especially the hours from dusk to about midnight. That&rsquo;s why it is especially important to protect yourself &ldquo;from dusk till dawn.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Prevention experts also say there are things you can do to &ldquo;mosquito-proof&rdquo; your yard and home:</p>
<ul>
<li>Repair screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out</li>
<li>Drain standing water in tires, buckets, or similar water-holding containers these are place for mosquitoes to breed</li>
<li>Change the water in birdbaths at least weekly</li>
<li>Flush pot drain pans regularly</li>
<li>Treat ornamental pools and ponds for mosquito larvae (commercial products available at most home improvement stores)</li>
<li>Repair leaky faucets and springs </li>
<li>Clean clogged rain gutters and down spouts</li>
</ul>
<p>For more information on how to protect yourself and your family, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site at <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/Features/stopmosquitoes/index.html">http://www.cdc.gov/Features/stopmosquitoes/index.html</a>. </p>Thu, 30 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{938781E5-9CCE-4FA7-8468-2C014301ADFD}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/help-for-seniors-with-mental-health-and-substance-abuse-issues/Help For Seniors With Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues<p>&ldquo;As baby boomers age there&rsquo;s growing demand for mental health services and growing awareness of how depression and anxiety really can impact people&rsquo;s lives,&rdquo; says Ted Wander, MD, medical director for inpatient psychiatry at LDS Hospital . &ldquo;By treating these issues adequately we can improve not only the mental health of our seniors but their physical health as well.&rdquo;</p>
<p>To accommodate the growing geriatric and mental health needs for seniors, geropsychiatry units are opening in hospitals across the country, including <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/lds-hospital/" target="_blank">LDS Hospital</a>&nbsp;in Salt Lake City, Utah. </p>
<p>&ldquo;The purpose of our new unit is to help treat and stabilize patients so they can return to their homes, other care facilities, and to their families and friends," Dr. Wander adds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>LDS Hospital&rsquo;s new geropsychiatry unit focuses on the unique health needs of aging patients who suffer from substance abuse, depression, anxiety, dementia, or experience sudden changes in their mental well being.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;The focus is on anxiety, depression, and the assessment of cognitive status,&rdquo; says Dr. Wander. &ldquo;Many people aged 60 to 80 are wondering if their memory loss is normal or their family members may be concerned about their cognitive abilities so we help out with that, as well."&nbsp;</p>
<p>While depression and sadness might seem to go hand and hand, many depressed seniors claim not to feel <em>sad</em> at all. They may complain, instead, of low motivation, a lack of energy, or physical problems. In fact, physical complaints, such as arthritis pain or worsening headaches, are often the predominant symptom of depression in the elderly.</p>
<p>According to an article on <a href="http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-in-older-adults-and-the-elderly.htm" target="_blank">HelpGuide.com</a>, older adults who deny feeling sad or depressed may still have major depression. Here are the clues to look for:&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Unexplained or aggravated aches and pains</li>
<li>Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness</li>
<li>Anxiety and worries</li>
<li>Memory problems</li>
<li>Lack of motivation and energy</li>
<li>Slowed movement and speech</li>
<li>Irritability</li>
<li>Loss of interest in socializing and hobbies</li>
<li>Neglecting personal care (skipping meals, forgetting medications, neglecting personal hygiene)</li>
</ul>
<p>The very nature of depression interferes with a person's ability to seek help, draining energy and self-esteem. For depressed seniors, raised in a time when mental illness was highly stigmatized and misunderstood, it can be even more difficult&mdash;especially if they don&rsquo;t believe depression is a real illness, are too proud or ashamed to ask for assistance, or fear becoming a burden to their families, according to the to HelpGuide.com article&nbsp;</p>
<p>If an elderly person you care about is depressed, you can make a difference by offering emotional support. Listen to your loved one with patience and compassion. You don&rsquo;t need to try to &ldquo;fix&rdquo; someone&rsquo;s depression; just being there to listen is enough. Don&rsquo;t criticize feelings expressed, but point out realities and offer hope. You can also help by seeing that your friend or family member gets an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.&nbsp;</p>Thu, 30 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{5C69EBBA-5BC1-4672-A2E3-5A954AA7E2D7}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/mental-health-integration--treating-the-whole-person/Mental Health Integration - Treating the WHOLE PersonHeight . . . check. <br />
Weight . . . check. <br />
Blood pressure . . . check. <br />
Heart rate . . . check. <br />
Mental state . . . <em>check!</em>&nbsp;
<p>The mind is just as crucial as any part of the body when it comes to health and wellbeing. That&rsquo;s the idea behind Mental Health Integration (MHI) &ndash; a system that includes mental healthcare as part of your clinical visit. MHI at Intermountain Healthcare has changed the culture of primary healthcare by standardizing a team-based care process that includes mental health as a normal part of the routine medical encounter. </p>
<p><strong>A little history</strong></p>
<p>Contemporary western medicine is based on a tradition of treating mental health separate from physical health &ndash; a tendency to assume that diseases occur independently of social context. This view is called mind-body dualism. But when mental health is treated as separate from physical health, the healthcare experience is often stigmatized and the care process is fragmented. These attitudes are changing, but the fact remains that 45% of aging Americans have a chronic disease,<sup> </sup>with mental health issues ranking only second to cancer on the chronic disease list. Depression, the most common mental health condition seen in primary care, often occurs with, and compromises, care of other chronic illnesses; yet stigma and secrecy often cause depression to go undetected, undiagnosed, or under-treated.</p>
<p><strong>The situation today</strong></p>
<p>Over the last 12 years, Intermountain Healthcare has developed MHI as a comprehensive team-based innovation for caring for the mental and physical health of patients and their families. MHI is defined as a standardized clinical and operational team relational process that incorporates mental health as a complementary component of wellness and healing for life. The MHI team care process model has spread a new social message of normalizing mental health as a routine part of everyday health exchanges between patients and their doctors and among clinic staff.</p>
<p>MHI involves a team-based approach where complementary roles include the patient and family and are operationalized at the clinic, improving both physician and staff communication. MHI differs from collaborative care models because it is a standardized system in which a key focus is on the primary care providers continuing to provide appropriate levels of mental health care within a high-functioning team. The MHI team includes all of the primary care providers and support staff, in addition to practice managers, mental health professionals, community advocates, the patient, and the family.</p>
<p>MHI continues to be phased into practice at Intermountain facilities. Those clinics that are just starting to form an MHI care plan are called &ldquo;potential&rdquo; clinics; those that have a plan underway are called &ldquo;adoption&rdquo; clinics; and those that have been practicing MHI for more than six years are called &ldquo;routinized&rdquo; clinics &ndash; a level that has now been reached in dozens of clinics operating across the Intermountain Healthcare system.</p>
<p><strong>Is it working?</strong></p>
<p>Yes! Studies have shown significantly improved patient outcomes as a result of the MHI care process model. It also leads to cost savings for everybody, as patients treated in MHI clinics are 54% less likely to use expensive emergency room services. </p>
<p>A research study by Dr. Brenda Reiss-Brennan, Mental Health Integration Director for Intermountain Healthcare, shows that when patients can receive effective care at their familiar clinic setting for their mental and physical health, coordinated between their doctor and their broader health care team, their overall functioning in their life is improved and sustained. &ldquo;Patients in MHI clinics prefer care administered by multiple persons working together with their doctor to address their mental, physical, and family health issues,&rdquo; Dr. Brennan says. &ldquo;Patients value a trusting relationship with their doctor who can get to the root of their problem by treating mind and body together and who can work together with a coordinated treatment team.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The study also indicated that staff members benefit from the team-based approach. It demonstrated that delivering mental health care via a coordinated team using the MHI approach improves staff and patient routine experiences and promotes positive patient outcomes.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>And patients can see the difference: </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">&ldquo;I visited an Intermountain clinic last summer to get help for my ailing mother, who suffers from debilitating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to the point that she had dropped to under 100 lbs. I feared for her physical health, but knew it was all a result of her mental health. The physician Mom met with about her severe weight loss instantly coordinated a full team to include someone to help with the mental health problem that was the root of her trouble. The process was smooth and really gave us confidence that she&rsquo;d get the help she so desperately needed, and everyone treated us with great respect and kindness.&rdquo; &ndash; Mike B.</p>
<p><strong>What does this mean for the future?</strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;In order to treat the whole person, you have to put the mind and body together,&rdquo; says Dr. Brennan. And the results speak for themselves: whole person-centered care has been shown to be best for patients, for staff, and for keeping overall costs down. Normalizing mental health as an organized, holistic team process within primary care offers promising results for improving outcomes for patients with chronic disease. And Intermountain Healthcare stands as an institutional role model for MHI.</p>Mon, 27 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{9AB53A70-4963-435A-9B28-C889849011A2}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/eradicating-hepatitis-c-new-research-points-to-a-cure-for-this-deadly-disease/Eradicating Hepatitis C: New Research Points to a Cure for this Deadly Disease<p>In medicine, cures for diseases are few and far between. Oftentimes, a patient is treated for a condition, but is reliant on a medication as part of treatment. Once they stop taking the medication, the disease returns.</p>
<p>The cure for hepatitis C is an actual cure. Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center led a team of scientists from three continents and 15 countries to perform and publish the results of a pivotal clinical trial.</p>
<p>&ldquo;During the clinical trial, patients diagnosed with hepatitis C took a new pill-based medicine once a day for 12 weeks,&rdquo; said Michael Charlton, MD, medical director of liver transplantation at Intermountain Medical Center. &ldquo;We observed a 95 percent success rate in eliminating the disease, even in patients with the most advanced stages of liver disease. And when we compared the pill to the placebo, there are almost no side-effects.&rdquo; </p>
<p><strong>Dr. Charlton explains more in this short video.</strong></p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zxd_G820RgA" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p>Hepatitis C is part of a family of viruses that affect the liver. It is only passed through blood-to-blood contact, and unlike its cousins, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, it is impossible to prevent with a vaccine because the hepatitis C virus mutates too quickly. The virus will suppress the immune system and have long-term effects on the host &ndash; but most people show no symptoms until they develop liver cancer or liver disease. </p>
<p>Hepatitis C is the most common reason people need liver transplants. However, 20 percent of patients on the liver transplant list die before a suitable liver becomes available. </p>
<p>&ldquo;Access to this cure for hepatitis C would prevent thousands of people from needing a liver transplant,&rdquo; said Dr. Charlton. &ldquo;The fewer people on the list for a liver transplant, the quicker a patient in need can receive the life-saving gift and improve their quality of life.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In 2010, the World Health Organization made <a href="http://www.worldhepatitisday.org/" target="_blank">World Hepatitis Day</a>, one of only four official disease-specific world health days. It is celebrated annually on July 28 and is intended to raise awareness about viral hepatitis. You can follow the conversation online using <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PreventHepatitis&amp;src=typd&amp;vertical=default&amp;f=tweets" target="_blank">#PreventHepatitis</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%234000voices&amp;src=tyah&amp;vertical=default&amp;f=tweets" target="_blank">#4000voices</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>Mon, 27 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{BAF71CFA-8293-4443-9408-62AEACC96626}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/give-breakfast-another-shot-it-is-the-most-important-meal-of-the-day/Give Breakfast Another Shot; It&#39;s the Most Important Meal of the Day<p>Here's what I've been sharing with the 15 Utah women competing in the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute's My Heart Challenge: Moms Edition:&nbsp;</p>
<p>Breakfast is just what it says &ndash; it &lsquo;breaks&rsquo; a &lsquo;fast&rsquo;.&nbsp; We may go anywhere from 8-12 (or more) hours without consuming anything when we sleep.&nbsp; Our body is in a semi-fasted state.&nbsp; Consequently, our metabolism is blunted as well.&nbsp; When we eat breakfast, it helps to get our bodies going, including our metabolism.&nbsp; Especially for those of us with weight management goals, why not take advantage of any metabolic advantage we can get.</p>
<p>Breakfast is a great opportunity to get essential nutrients.&nbsp; Energy, protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals are all nutrients found in our breakfast foods.&nbsp; By skipping breakfast we may miss out of some of these key nutrients.&nbsp; Of course, in order to obtain these nutrients this assumes we consume a balanced meal when we eat breakfast, and I realize this is not always the case.&nbsp; To ensure this happens think of the plate method when choosing what to eat: aim to have a whole grain (such as a whole grain cereal, oatmeal, or a whole wheat English muffin), a fruit and/or vegetable, and a lean protein source (such as lowfat/nonfat dairy, hardboiled egg, or nut butters).&nbsp;</p>
<p>Finally, we see that eating breakfast may help us with our weight management goals. Research tells us that individuals who skip breakfast <em>may</em> be more likely to overeat later in the day.&nbsp; It makes sense when we think about it &ndash; perhaps we skip breakfast because we are very busy in the morning.&nbsp; We eat a lighter lunch or snack throughout the day because of this busy, on-the-go lifestyle. We may feel alright (not overly hungry) until we get home and start to relax from the day &ndash; and then it hits us. All of the sudden we&rsquo;re opening the cupboards and trying to find anything at all to eat, and we may not be likely to seek out the healthiest option. It is helpful to understand there is a hormonal imbalance when we go too long without consuming enough calories, and our body tries to correct this imbalance by prompting us to eat. Unfortunately, in these situations we may be likely to overeat&hellip; I often hear clients tell me they were &lsquo;good&rsquo; all day long, but get home and end up overeating or binging.&nbsp; This is because &lsquo;good&rsquo; meant they just were not eating enough.&nbsp; So, having our calories consumed evenly throughout the day may help prevent us from overeating later in the evening.&nbsp;</p>
<p>When I ask individuals what gets in the way of eating breakfast, they say they either are not hungry, or don&rsquo;t have time.&nbsp; Both of these excuses can be addressed.&nbsp; If we&rsquo;re not hungry, it is because our body has adapted to not eating in the morning.&nbsp; Luckily, this can be reversed.&nbsp; If we start eating even just something small &ndash; like a smoothie or a yogurt &ndash; we start getting our body used to eating.&nbsp; Over time, by increasing the amount that we eat, we become used to eating and even will start to be <em>hungry</em> in the morning.&nbsp; How great is that? As for the lack of time, that can be solved by prepping something the night before (such as a peanut butter and banana sandwich), or considering more grab-n-go options (try a Greek yogurt, a banana, and granola bar). Also keep in mind, you do not need to select traditional breakfast foods.&nbsp; If you don&rsquo;t like whole wheat waffles or oatmeal, consider leftovers from another meal, or a sandwich wrap.</p>
So give breakfast another shot.&nbsp; Whether or not it is the most important meal, it is pretty helpful in reaching our nutrition and healthy habits goals.<br />Mon, 27 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{9F315580-EBF6-4106-AB1A-BACFD8F857F2}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/2-tools-to-help-you-make-healthy-changes-in-your-life/2 Tools to Help you Make Healthy Changes in Your Life<p>As I work with the moms in the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute&rsquo;s My Heart Challenge: Moms Edition, I use a <strong>couple of tools</strong> to help people achieve their goals for change. </p>
<p><strong>Readiness Ruler</strong></p>
<p>A very simple and easy way to assess a person&rsquo;s level of &ldquo;readiness&rdquo; (i.e., motivation or confidence to tackle a problem area in their life, or a goal they would like to achieve) is to have them honestly assess their desire to make a specific change. For example: One a scale from one to ten &ndash; 1 being &ldquo;not motivated&rdquo; and 10 being &ldquo;extremely motivated&rdquo; &ndash; where would you say you are with this particular change?</p>
<p>This helps the person decide whether or not they really should invest their energy in that particular goal.</p>
<p><strong>SMART Goals</strong></p>
<p>In order for people to be successful in making a true change in their lives their goals should have five important components<em>:</em><em> <strong>S</strong></em>pecific, <strong><em>M</em></strong>easurable, <strong><em>A</em></strong>chievable, <strong><em>R</em></strong>elevant, <strong><em>T</em></strong>imely.</p>
<p>If people are <strong>highly motivated</strong> and create <strong>SMART goals</strong> they usually can be quite successful in making changes. However, no one is perfect during the process of change so being prepared for how to handle setbacks is also an essential piece to be successful.</p>
<p>Below is an interview I did at <a href="http://fox13now.com/2015/06/17/my-heart-challenge-progress-report-and-making-smart-goals/" target="_blank">Fox 13 News</a> to discuss ways people can use these tools for better health.&nbsp;</p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EYCvoR1kmaw" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{553B569C-1AF8-40F7-B8E8-E6A3B85D767B}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/fda-issues-strong-warnings-otc-pain-medications-what-you-need-know/FDA Issues Strong Warnings Regarding Over-the-Counter Pain Medications - Here&#39;s What You Need to Know<p class="p1">Warning labels are required to divulge such information, but recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has called for drug makers &ldquo;to strengthen their warning labels&rdquo; for over-the-counter medications by adding specific warnings about the increased risk of heart attack and stroke associated with these drugs.</p>
<p class="p2">Some of the medications affected by the change include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), as well as some multi-symptom cold products. These medications are used for temporary relief from pain and fevers.</p>
<p class="p1">Since 2005, both prescription and over-the-counter labels for these pain medications have listed information about heart attack and stroke risk, but the FDA wants drug makers to get more specific about these risks.</p>
<p class="p1">Rick Williams, pharmacist at the Intermountain Sandy Clinic at Alta View Hospital, says that despite the vagueness of the labels, the change is a call for the public to take more responsibility in knowing the risks of the medications they are using.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;What the public needs to remember, is these medications aren&rsquo;t just simple drugs,&rdquo; says Williams. &ldquo;They can do a lot of harm if used inappropriately. This change by the FDA also puts responsibility on doctors and providers to make sure patients know the risks and how they can be avoided.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1">In a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/10/health/fda-painkillers/index.html">recent article by CNN</a>, doctors that were interviewed were at odds with one another as to the effectiveness of this change and the specifics that labels can really offer at this time.</p>
<p class="p1">Some agree it was needed and others say the FDA acted to quickly. Both, however, agree that the updated instructions are vague and require more data before labels can offer even more specific information as to the heart attack and stroke risks.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;What patients need to know is, if you take the drugs, 'What is my risk of heart attack?' and that's not known yet," says Steven Nissen, MD, chief of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.</p>
<p class="p1">Anna Steinberg, MD, an internist at DeKalb Medical, also thinks the warning is too vague and says she won&rsquo;t stop telling patients to stop taking them, especially if they have no risk.</p>
<p class="p1">"I am not going to tell them to stop taking these," she says. She also believes that more data is needed and that this guidance creates, "way to much room for mass hysteria."&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p3">After the FDA made the announcement, several drug manufacturers published statements regarding the effectiveness of their drugs, when used appropriately.</p>
<p class="p3"><strong>Bayer (manufacturer of Aleve)</strong></p>
<p class="p3">"When taken as directed on the label, Aleve (naproxen sodium 220 mg) is a safe and effective pain reliever, used by millions of consumers since its introduction as an OTC product 20 years ago. Importantly, data collected for nearly 20 years indicates no signal (i.e. trend) for OTC naproxen sodium with regard to the occurrence of (cardiovascular) thrombotic and overall (cardiovascular) events. We will work with the FDA to incorporate additional label information as appropriate."</p>
<p class="p3"><strong>Pfizer (manufacturer of Celebrex and Advil)</strong></p>
<p class="p3">"For over 30 years, extensive consumer use and several clinical studies have shown that Ibuprofen, when used as directed, is a safe and effective over-the-counter pain reliever delivered in a lower strength than prescription ibuprofen.</p>
<p class="p1">"We are committed to patient safety, and we will work with the FDA to make sure that new safety information is appropriately added to our packaging/drug facts label so that consumers can continue to safely use our products."</p>
<p class="p1">So there you have it. The new change isn&rsquo;t anything ground breaking, but it does put added emphasis on our responsibility as users. Don&rsquo;t use medications if you don&rsquo;t need them, always use the label, and talk to your provider if you have questions.</p>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{4B7D150F-A097-430C-93BD-E9238B065547}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/take-the-6-weeks-of-fitness-challenge/Take the 6 Weeks of Fitness Challenge!<p style="line-height: 115%;"><strong>Welcome to 6 Weeks of Fitness! </strong>Here&rsquo;s how it works:</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Text "Livewell" to 91234 to sign up for our 6 Weeks of Fitness text campaign and other LiVe Well messages.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Receive a fun fitness prompt each week for six weeks, starting July 28.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Complete each activity and reply with the keyword. When you do you&rsquo;ll be entered to win a #6Weeks prize!</span></li>
</ol>
<p>
See what you can accomplish over the course of six weeks. Each week we&rsquo;ll share the fitness prompt and extra resources here on the blog too. Let's get moving!</p>
<strong style="line-height: 115%;">WEEK 1 &ndash; July 30, 2015</strong>
<div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fitness Prompt:</span> Add some energy to your afternoon. Stand up right now and do 15 jumping jacks. </p>
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Extra Tips</span>: You are taking fitness into your own hands. <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/live-well/move-well/habits/increase-your-activity/ideas-to-make-it-happen" target="_blank">Check out more simple ways to be active</a>.<br />
&nbsp;
<div>---&nbsp;&nbsp;
<p>Note: Intermountain is required by law to inform you that there is some risk that text messages may not be secure once they leave the Intermountain Healthcare system. By opting in you consent that these communications may be sent to you, despite being informed of this risk.</p>
</div>
</div>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{2389D7BC-3F48-4EB4-86B3-BF0081DD9315}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/fighting-cancer-is-now-personalblog-post/Fighting Cancer is Now Personal<p><strong>Attacking cancer is now personal</strong></p>
<p>Personalized cancer treatment seems like a no-brainer.&nbsp; Of course it&rsquo;s personal. Cancer is a diagnosis that comes with a myriad of new emotions, definitions, fears, and questions. So, yes, it is personal. At every level, it&rsquo;s personal. At Intermountain Precision Genomics, located in St. George, Utah, scientists, physicians and a team of professionals are offering personalized medicine with precision results.</p>
<p><strong>About Intermountain Precision Genomics</strong> <br />
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Intermountain Healthcare patients have been benefiting from precision medicine since 2013 and now, with partners and systems in place, precision medicine is available to a broader audience. Oncologists from all over the United States can join with us to add precision medicine to patient care. </p>
<p>Intermountain Precision Genomics started with a vision of colleagues and friends at Intermountain Healthcare. Lincoln Nadauld, MD, PhD, Derrick Haslem, MD, and Gary Stone, operations officer, saw the coming shift of change in medicine with genetics and determined that they had two choices: to follow the wave of that change or lead it. They came together to implement Precision Genomics at Intermountain Healthcare, a not-for-profit hospital system in the intermountain west.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Intermountain is uniquely positioned to play an important role in groundbreaking efforts surrounding precision medicine. According to Stone, &ldquo;This is scientific revolution. We get to think differently about the underlining scientific methodologies behind how we deliver medicine. Intermountain Healthcare is on the forefront of finding innovative ways to transform healthcare through high quality and sustainable costs. Precision Genomics achieves this in a very innovative way.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p><strong>Attacking cancer - making it personal</strong></p>
<p>Using a test called the ICG100 Intermountain Precision Genomics offers personalized treatments based on a patient&rsquo;s specific genetic makeup. With the goal of extending life and increasing the quality of life for patients, Intermountain contracts with partners like Syapse, DNAnexus, N-of-One and TOMA to make it possible to sequence, store and interpret data, treat, and track patient outcomes. </p>
<p>Syapse Founder and President Jonathon Hirsch created a software platform to support Intermountain Precision Genomics.&nbsp; Hirsch noted, &ldquo;The unique thing about this software platform is that it presents the information to the physician in a way that they can act on it.&nbsp; It presents complex genomic data to the physicians with the capability to receive drug recommendations, clinical trials information and most importantly, the ability to then select, prescribe and procure a specific drug.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>What&rsquo;s next for personalized precision medicine? </strong></p>
<p>When asked about the future of precision medicine Dr.&nbsp; Nadauld responded, &ldquo;We are taking a muliti-disciplinary approach to precision medicine, where we grow beyond the confines of cancer.&nbsp; We are including cardiovascular medicine, the neurosciences, neonatal medicine, infectious diseases and other cross-disciplinary approaches.&rdquo;</p>
<p>For now, Intermountain Precision Genomics is adding another word to the cancer vocabulary in terms of personalized medicine: hope.&nbsp; When it comes to treatment options for people who are running out of hope, Precision Genomics at Intermountain is extending life and improving the quality of life of stage four cancer patients through personalized precision medicine.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>For more information about Intermountain Precision Genomics visit: <a href="http://www.precisioncancer.org">www.precisioncancer.org</a> or join the conversation on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/precisiongenomics?ref=hl">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600